Lot # 21: Unusual Holey Toe Putter w/Cane Shaft

Starting Bid: $250.00

Bids: 4 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall 2021",
which ran from 11/4/2021 11:00 AM to
11/20/2021 8:00 PM



Part of the fun of collecting old golf clubs is the fact that something new and different always seems to turn up no matter how long a person has been in the hobby.  It's especially exciting when a club shows up that stops a person in their tracks and makes them say to themselves, "Wow! This is something I never even imagined!"   This unmarked c. 1930 holey toe putter (as termed by the auctioneer) is such a club.  It has the largest opening, the largest hole in the face of any antique or vintage putter ever made. At least to the best of the auctioneers knowledge/recollection.

The design of this club, however, is not very practical.  The open toe places the sweet spot on the heel, directly below the red dot on the top of the head. Given that the location of such a small striking surface provided the golfer with almost no margin for error, plus its just plain strange to line up the ball so far towards the heel, its no surprise that this club never caught on.

The 34 1/2" six-sided bamboo shaft and leather wrap grip appear to be original. The varnished whipping at the base of the grip is original as is the black plastic grip cap.   The auctioneer estimates the date of this club somewhere around the early 1930s.  Everything appears original and in good shape. The fact that this club is so visual and there is nothing else like it makes this club a great collectible. 

One of the images with this lot shows this putter, for perspective, with a Simplex putter and Brown perforated iron—lots 2 and 22.  These additional clubs are not part of his lot.

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